Deep down we’d all like our children to be at least a little bit like us, wouldn’t we?
But what happens when they start to pick up the traits we don’t particularly like in ourselves?
This week I’ve joined in with the Write Club challenge again where different bloggers all write a post with the same title – but put their own personal spin on it. Check out links to the other bloggers at the bottom of this post.
I’m probably at a slight disadvantage writing around this title, you know, considering two thirds of my offspring can’t even talk yet, but I thought I’d give it a go anyway.
They might be young, but they’re already showing LOTS of, what shall we call it, er… ‘character’.
Obviously most of this will be based around my three year old – as opposed to my 21 month old twins but I can already see them turning into their elder brother in some ways. God help me. It’s no wonder I like wine.
Before I start I feel compelled to counter all these bad points with some good ones too – they’re intelligent (even if I do say so myself), polite (mostly), sociable, kind, funny. But hey, that’s not the title of the post..
So here are 5 Ways My Children Take After Me (That I Wish They Didn’t!):
1. My children love to talk
Okay, so that shouldn’t automatically be taken as a negative. But do you know what, I wish sometimes my children would just Shut. The. F*ck. Up. The three year old literally NEVER stops. I’m very proud of his amazing speech and I do love our little conversations. He’s very bright for his age, and is often telling me totally random facts about dinosaurs or superheroes; transformers or sabre-tooth cats, and he can be bloody hilarious. But honestly HE. NEVER. STOPS. He’ll even call me into his room at 4am to tell me another little useless anecdote. It’s never-ending.
Even the twins, despite only having a handful of words so far, are following in their big brother’s footsteps. Twin One is generally a bit quieter, preferring to climb all over you for attention rather than being vocal, but Twin Two has learnt ‘Mama?’ and isn’t afraid to use it. Like, 100 times an hour. So far it’s cute because he doesn’t say much else other than those random noises little toddlers make in various tones and volume to get their point across. I am not stupid enough to think cute will always be the case.
But if you know me, you’ll know I too am a yapper. And so is my Other Half (not that he’d admit that) so we’ve only got ourselves to blame. By the time the Twins are up to speed I am seriously getting earplugs.
2. My children love a bit of screen time.
When I say a bit, I mean quite a big bit. They all love watching stuff or playing games on either the iPad, Kindle or TV. I like tele as much as the next person, but I actually love my phone or laptop even more than I love wine (which is quite a lot) so I’d be stupid to be shocked that my children are similar.
I limit the amount they watch, and it’s never just ‘on in the background’, we sit and watch it together – usually when the Twins nap. The three year old, me and my Facebook app. But I’m also not going to pretend screen time isn’t a massive help to me at times – especially during the few days a week I’m flying solo and the Other Half works away.
Bedtimes are a perfect example, they take it in turns (or should I say fight over) CBeebies whilst I get them ready for bed one by one. We did a week of no screens at bedtime last week and it was absolute carnage. The three of them ran around the upstairs chasing each other, pushing, shoving, shouting, and winding each other up into what could be mistaken for some weird drug-fuelled frenzy. By this time I’m ready to lose my shit totally, they won’t calm down, and the chance of sleep (and my glass of wine) is slipping rapidly down a black hole. So the screens are back. And so is a calm bedtime. Judge me if you will. Then come and put my three hyper kids to bed on your own.
3. My children have tempers
So this one isn’t something I’m at all proud of, but my own (and husband’s) sometimes short fuses are seemingly wearing off onto our children – as much as I hate to admit it. I’ll be honest and say I like to get my own way (who doesn’t?) and my three year old is the same. Although I’ve yet to come across a three year old who doesn’t so maybe I’m being harsh on both him and myself. He’s a stroppy threenager with added stroppiness some days.
He’s impatient for our attention at times, and readily lets us know his frustration. If I compare him to his only-child friends he definitely comes off worse in some aspects. But in his defence he’s been forced to share our attention with two babies for nearly two years, and doesn’t get the one-to-one input he wants instantly. It’s a very different ballgame to a child who has undivided attention from parents 100% of the time. He’s three, and when he wants to show me what he’s just built with his Lego, he wants to show me NOW. Not in five minutes when I’ve finished changing a shitty nappy, or cleaned Weetabix/concrete off a baby and highchair – twice. Let’s face it, I’d want to show you my latest Lego masterpiece immediately too. And I’m 39.
The Twins can be pretty hot-headed too when they feel like it. Yes they’re still very young, but they’d give an Olympian javelin thrower a run for their money when they launch food across the table or a toy across the room in frustration. And I genuinely risk injury when I break up a fight between them over a toy. They definitely don’t hold back. Have a read of this post about threenager meltdowns while you’re here – Toddler and threenager tantrums to make you laugh out loud.
4. My children repeat my phrases
This is a bit of a funny one as it’s brilliant and bad at the same time. There are some things the three year old says which he’s clearly copied from me which are adorable. Just little sayings and turns of phrase. Then there are others that aren’t so cute. Like when I tell him off and he answers me back with “If you say that one more time, Mummy…” It’s like a mirror. I don’t ever swear in front of my children (I keep that for my blog) so I’m hoping we won’t encounter any of those little gems anytime soon. But he did say “Oh my God,” and “What the heck is that?” the other day which made me wince. Compared to what I mutter under my breath 643 times a day, I’m not going to beat myself up too much though. Nobody has dropped the F Bomb. Yet.
5. My children have a sweet tooth
Despite being one of the fussiest eaters on the planet, my three year old would happily wolf down anything that looks and tastes vaguely sweet. Probably like most kids his age. I’m not the same as him in the fussy stakes, but he definitely gets his sweet tooth from me. Luckily he is easily fobbed off with desserts such as fruit or yoghurt (watermelon and grapes are literally his favourite things, and thank f*ck for that) but if he gets a whiff of something sweet be it cake, biscuits, or chocolate he is ALL OVER IT. Given half the chance, he inhales a chocolate finger quicker than the speed of light. He’s clearly seen me eat anything of the Cadbury’s variety… (and I thought I was being clever hiding behind the cupboard door)
The Twins are heading in the same direction – or they would given half the chance. Poor sods are still forced to have fruit pouches, crappy baby biscottis or those hideous tasteless gingerbread men you find in Sainsbury’s baby aisle. That have to be the least ginger-tasting or indeed, sweet thing you’ve ever tried. You know, because I’m still TRYING to be a good mum. But the song and dance they make if they see you eat something sweet is Oscar-worthy. I relented and gave them half a chocolate finger each last week (quick call the Mum police). You’d have thought they’d won some kind of baby lottery.
So there’s my five. It’ll be interesting to see what other ‘bad bits’ of me they pick up as they grow. Although I’m slightly dreading it as well.
What ways do your children take after you that you wish they didn’t?
Have a look at these posts from fellow bloggers to read their take on it:
- Me, Them and The Others
- Unmindful Mama
- Tales from Mamaville
- The Mulberry Bush
- A Life Just Ordinary
- Me, Annie Bee
- The Incidental Parent
How did i do?
Did you enjoy this post? You might like some of my others, so how about you have a read of Yummy Mummy or
Slummy Mummy, or Why every mum needs mummy mates. Or how about checking out another Write Club post I wrote – 10 things I wish I’d known before having children
Or if you fancy a bit of social media madness, pop over to my Facebook page where you’ll be able to have a laugh at what ridiculousness goes on in my house with three very small boys on a daily basis. Warning – there is often sarcasm, and usually swearing. There are also great travel reviews and some AWESOME giveaways. Feel free to join my Twins, Tantrums and Cold Coffee – Shits and Giggles Parenting Group too, where everyone shares their hilarious stories.
If you like what you see, how about you check me out on Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter too. I’m all over the place!
And if you want to work with me, feel free to give me a shout here, and I’ll get back to you during naptime/screentime (!)
32 comments
Oh the talking. I swear, my brain will melt soon with the constant, incessant chatter. Still, keep thinking I should enjoy it now, before they’re teenagers and all they’ll do is grunt at me. Great post!
There is that, yes! It’ll be hard to imagine when they’re grunting teenagers how needy and vocal they are now!
Oh god, I totally forgot about the repeating your phrases, I Hate hearing my words repeated back to me! Great post. X
It’s horrible!
I find myself cringing when my son comes out with phrases he has learnt from me! Screen time is another one for me too xx
I cringe too!
I love it when she repeats what I say – especially when she calls her dad by his first name in an exasperated tone! #itsok
Ha ha, brilliant!
My youngest definitely has quite the temper. He’s only two so I’m hoping it will pass but I’m sure he’s inherited that from me…. #ItsOK
Their tempers are the worst!
I agree so much with this! She has all of my really strong and independent traits which will stand her in good stead later but make her a nightmare toddler! #itsok
I keep thinking the same when they’re having a meltdown in the middle of the park!
My eldest is a bit of a foodie like me and we love to try new foods. As much as it’s great that he’s so open about food, when I buy myself something nice to eat he wants to have some too. How annoying?! Haha
I don’t have that problem – apart from with sweets, biscuits and chocolate!
I love this topic, my toddler is still a bit young, but I can already see little hints of cheekiness and stubbornness that she gets from me
#ItsOK
It’s amazing how young they still are when their character starts to show!
I’m so glad I’m not alone with the talkative kids!! My 4 yr old won’t shut up, and when he’s tired it just gets worse! As far the sweet tooth goes, we are also in trouble, but I have noticed my youngest (2yr) likes to eat peanut butter straight out the jar, so that may be shades of me again.
Loved this post!
Ha ha, my three year old is obsessed with peanut butter too!
only very recently my 16 month old has become fascinated with watching nursery rhymes on tv, she hasn’t shown interest before now but she is certainly fixated and now i use it when i need 15 minutes and i have been feeling guilty about plopping her infront of a screen but reading this i know #itsok! survival comes in many forms!
It certainly does!
Our kids are 15 (daughter) ad 13 (son), so we both see ourselves in them both. The worst is myself and my daughter are terrible procrastinators, and what bothers me most about her, yep. just that!! Hardly fair, is it? I just thought of course we would iron this fault out n our girl!!! #itsOK
We always seem to dislike the traits we can see in ourselves!
OK, I feel like this post could have been written by me 🙂 Except for the sweet tooth part. I’m more of a “GIVE ME SOME CHIPS” kinda mommy !! #itsok
The temper and the sweet tooth he’s got from me too! And the repeating my phrases and ‘snippets of advice ‘ back to me!!! You can’t even be too pissed at them because well, that is exactly what you don’t like about yourself! #parentingirony
Great post. #itsok
It really winds me up when he repeats my phrases back to me though!
Awww … those are lovely traits to follow after you with. Even the throwing of food – don’t we all want to throw a plate at food at a dinner partner at some point in our lives, even just once. #itsok
How nice would that be! Although sometimes I just feel like joining them and throwing food on the floor out of frustration with the kids!
I wish my children didn’t have the desire to travel like me, it’s hard work visiting them in Australia, Northern Ireland and around the UK #itsok
I bet it is! Although nice problem to have!
Oh dear! It’s coming to us all I fear! #itsok
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